St.
Paul outfit Hockey Night crafts Euclidian indie-pop masterpieces for the
smokin’ and thinkin’ set. It goes without saying that the
Velvets are a part of all contemporary rock musicians recombinant DNA,
so we’ll dispense with that semi-comparison forthwith. Others could
include Alien Lanes-era GBV, only more sober, polished and fully
realized. And hipsters will be delighted to hear traces of the Allmans,
Thin Lizzy, Supertramp and Manfred Mann. Ha! Oh, and let’s not forget
Toni Basil. While largely upbeat, courtesy of halcyon hooks and helium-fueled
lead guitar, they sprinkle enough verjuice and vinegar into the mix so
we can have a little bitter with our sweet. But the real cherry on top,
which isn’t apparent on the record—which is why you have to
see them live—is to behold the bitchin’ double-drummer action.
These rhythmically conjoined twins wear each other’s skin and flail
away in graceful unison, like the cilia of a swimming paramecium. Speaking
of protozoans, the dudes will be coming fresh off a tour that included
appearances at the virulent industry slugfest, SXSW. Also during their
extensive travels, they seem to have fallen under the amorous gaze of
Lookout! Records and, according to my sources, have consummated some sort
of conjugal agreement that will result in the release of their sophomore
album all across this great land come July. Ah, spring. Love is in the
air. Then again, it could just be good weed. 5 p.m. $6. All Ages. 629
Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-333-7399. Also on Fri., 3/25 with Troubled Hubble,
Malachi Constant, Pariah Caste. 9 p.m. $5. 21+. The Corner of University
and Snelling Avenue, St. Paul. 651-647-0486.Donny Doane

John
Snell X
The Turf Club

Local psych-popster John Snell X (he really is the tenth John Snell in
a row in his lineage, according the press bio!) is celebrating the release
of his new jubilantly schizoid long player, The Clock Stops Here.
Featuring help from some high profile local music buddies (most notably
Jeremy Ylvisaker of the Melismatics), Snell is all over the place on his
third self-released album. There are scattershot bits of brilliance to
be found—the lazy folk-rock of “Carried Away” is an
immediate stunner—and even when things get a wee bit too busy and
acid-laced for my tastes, Snell’s wild-man showbiz exuberance keeps
things moving. Should make for an interesting live listen. With TBA. 9
p.m. TBA. 21+. The Corner of University and Snelling Avenue, St. Paul.
651-647-0486. Rob van Alstyne

Style
Construction
Minnesota Museum of American Art

Performance chameleon Mark Mallman dons a new hat this week, when he hosts
“Style Construction: A Runway Exhibition” at the Minnesota
Museum of American Art. This show presents fashion as art and highlights
the work of seven local designers, including high-end handmade couture
concoctions by Danielle DePietto, couture wedding frocks by Mindy Craft,
and funky assemblages by Laura Fulk. DJ Booka B will spin tunes during
the show and at the after-party that follows. Gather ‘round the
catwalk and indulge yourself in some sartorial splendor. 7 p.m. $7
adv/$10 door. 50 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul. 651-292-4355.Liberty
Finch

MiraMex
Instituto de Cultura y Educacion

As the St. Paul International Film Festival approaches, movie lovers can
get a sneak peak into independent and locally produced work by Latino
filmmakers at the two-day MiraMex festival March 24 and 25. The festival
is devoted to short, feature-length, narrative, documentary, and experimental
film and video with subjects ranging from Mexico City street kids to Chicano
artists in Los Angeles. MiraMex will feature three films from the Los
Angeles Silver Lake Film Festival, as well as films from local Latino
filmmakers. 7:30 p.m. $5 adults/$3 children/$7.50 two-day pass. 4137
Bloomington Ave. S., Mpls. 612-728-5728.Allison Herrera

JG
Everest & Smattering
The Bryant Lake Bowl

Local music stalwart JG Everest recently returned to the fold of his ambient
instrumental group Lateduster for a pair of stellar local gigs earlier
this month, but this show turns the focus back to his all-too-infrequently-gigging
solo work. This intimate BLB concert marks only the fourth since the late
summer release of Everest’s rousing debut, Hush Money—and,
as if getting the chance to catch Everest’s hazy loop-heavy bedroom
pop in the live setting weren’t enough incentive for you, he’s
managed to line up the equally live-gig-reclusive Matt Olson, AKA Smattering.
It’s been five years since Smattering’s release of Rajah
Pink and Wading Pool Blue and multiple unreleased follow-up records
are rumored to be in the can. The two will be performing solo and in tandem,
so expect plenty of chilled-out melodies and geeky musical gadgetry on
display. 9:30 p.m. $6 adv/$8 door. All Ages. 810 West Lake Street,
Mpls. 612-825-8949. van Alstyne

Medea
Benjamin
William Mitchell Law School

Medea Benjamin first made her mark in the anti-corporate globalization
movement working for fair trade. She’s the co-founder of Code Pink,
a creative resistance waged (primarily) by women opposing the war in Iraq.
Reinvigorate your spirit by hearing her speak and also support the National
Lawyers Guild, which is on the frontlines defending basic due process
and civil liberties. Now, more than ever, making connections between
trade policy, war abroad and the shredding of the Bill of Rights at home
is critical. Social hour 6:30 p.m.; dinner 7:30 dinner. $35 general/$15
students and low-income. 875 Summit Ave., St. Paul. 651-978-1936 or peterb@hotmail.com.Lydia Howell

Haley Bonar
The 400 Bar
Former Duluth teen music wonder Haley Bonar has finally made the big move
to the Twin Cities and the now-nearing-22 songstress has made plenty of
other changes to accompany her change of address. She’s got a new
band (featuring Vicious Vicious/Amber Estate drummer Adrian Suarez and
Mason Jennings’ current bassist Chris Morrissey) and a whole slew
of new songs. The follow-up to her appropriately rapturously received
sophomore album The Size of Planets is currently being recorded,
and don’t be surprised if Ms. Bonar ends up making another move—to
the world of major record labels—for its release. Bonar’s
soulful cowgirl vocals work wonders in the live setting, whether breathily
cooing over a creepy organ vamp or belting out atop countryish pop songs
and her every-so-often 400 Bar gigs have become something of a Minnesota
music happening—don’t miss out. With The Pines and TBA. 9
p.m. $10. 21+. 400 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-332-2903.van Alstyne

As
You Like It
Guthrie Theater

Not even a March blizzard can quash the giddiness you’ll feel after
watching this enchanting production of “As You Like It” at
the Guthrie Theater. Director Joe Dowling sets Will’s rollicking
comedy in the late 1960s, and it’s that interpretation that allows
set designer James Noone and costume designer Helen Q. Huang to shine,
shine, shine. Behold as Arden Forest transforms from winter’s chilly
wilderness to a playful, multi-colored love refuge. Bianca Amato’s
enthusiastic portrayal of Rosalind/ Ganymede is superb, and Jim Lichtscheidl
channels one groovy Touchstone. A few original songs by Mel Marvin weave
elements of folk and Motown into the show and set your hormones dancing.
Intoxicating (with no ill after affects), this production is sure to ignite
a heavy trip of spring fever. Tue.- Sat. 7:30 p.m.; Sun. 7 p.m. &
selected matinees 1 p.m. $14 - $49. 725 Vineland Pl., Mpls. 612-377-2224.Nancy Sartor

Happy Apple
The Black Dog Café

This show doubles as both an all-too-rare glimpse of local jazzsters Happy
Apple (whose members are generally busy in projects ranging from gonzo
metal instrumental combo Zebulon Pike to head bopping in the sophisticated
jazz combo the Bad Plus) and a fundraiser for the Minnesota sur Seine
music festival. Formed nearly a decade ago in Minneapolis, the Apple’s
will be kicking out the jams in support of the just-released album The
Peace Between Our Companies, which features the usual feisty blend
of alt. jazz courtesy of mainstays Eric Fratzke (bass) David King (drums)
and Michael Lewis (more saxophones then you can shake a stick at). The
Minnesota sur Seine festival provides a revolutionary cross-breeding of
the avant jazz scenes in Paris and these here deuce cities. The Twin Cities-French
jazz connection began in 2000 when jazz musician Michel Portal and record
producer Jean Rochard visited the area and were instantly taken with the
avant-garde jazz scene. This fest promises plenty of live collaborations
between the Parisian and Minneapolitan scenes—get ready for some
improvisational cross-cultural musical fireworks later this year! 7
p.m. $10. All Ages. 308 Prince St., St. Paul. 651-228-9274. Nathan
Dean

Peak
Oil SummitGalaxie Library

Oil powers our vehicles, fertilizes our crops and provides the material
for our throwaway plastics. But many experts predict that the skyrocketing
world demand for oil will outpace the supply—a moment called “peak
oil”—as early as the next few years. For Americans wondering
what could happen in a peak oil crisis, and how they could prepare for
it, expert Brian Merchant will host a public conference on the topic this
Saturday at the Galaxie Library in Apple Valley. Merchant has spoken at
area churches and recently attended the first national summit on the issue.
Free. 1 p.m. 14955 Galaxie Ave, Apple Valley. 952-431-7113 or e-mail
skogrand@frontiernet.net.Brian Kaller

Amartya
Sen
Hamline University

Raised in Calcutta—the poorest city in the world—Nobel Prize
laureate Amartya Sen has become famous not only as economist but as a
passionate advocate for human rights. Sen was the first economist to deal
with Third-World realities like famine, health care and women’s
rights, and garnered controversy when he maintained that world famines
are not caused by a lack of food, but by unjust economic systems that
keep some people from being able to buy food. He is the author of several
books, including “Collective Choice and Social Welfare” in
1970 and “Poverty and Famines” in 1981, and won the Nobel
Prize for Economics in 1998. Sen will talk about “The Causes of
Global Violence.” Free. 11:30 a.m. Sundin Music Hall, 1531 Hewitt
Ave., St. Paul. 651-523-2459. Kaller